1 Year TpT-versary

I realize that many of you are on summer vacation....ok, I'll speak for myself...I'm on summer vacation...and truly taking the summer off (of work and everything work related...granted, my summer vacation is only three weeks long so I'm making the most of this precious non-school time and I hope you are too) to enjoy time off with my husband and family. David and I got back on Monday from a wonderful {just the two of us} trip to Key West. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love me children dearly...they are by far, my very best creations, but time alone was pure bliss. Here we are at Mallory Square watching the sunset.

Then, tomorrow morning, we fly {with the kids}to Washington state, for a week with family...in the southeast corner of the state, in a small SMALL town called Dayton. I'll post pics on www.facebook.com/helloliteracy. It will be hot hot HOT.

David's father and brother are wheat and barley farmers, so we'll be among the wheat fields, perhaps taking day trips to wineries and the Columbia River, but mostly relaxing, eating and shopping. Again, I'll post pics on www.facebook.com/helloliteracy.

Realizing though that many of you are heading back to school soon, if not already, I wanted to celebrate my 1 Year TpT-versary. One year ago this week, I added my first real product, my Beginning of the Year Teacher Bonanza Bundle, and my little store, thanks to YOU, has only grown since...so thank you...and enjoy 20% this weekend, if you feel like shopping. Although Hello Literacy loves TeachersPayTeachers (hence the tree clipart HL X TpT) my true love is YOU! Thank you for following me from the very beginning...in 2006, when I entered cyberspace! Ya'll are the best! -Jen

BTW...I have not forgotten those of you who I promised a post about my trip to Arkansas...when I get back I will blog about the Vocabulary PD I provided to Sonora Elementary {you may remember that school as I was there back in January to provide Common Core training}...we had a great day of learning how to create and develop Tier 3 content vocabulary lists, in addition to Marzano's 6-steps for delivering and practicing Tier 3 words. Then in the afternoon, we focused on how to provide direct explicit vocabulary instruction of Tier 2 words through Text Talk lessons. A direct instruction technique {original lesson format source from Beck & McKeown's Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction} but taught to me by a great teacher and friend, Lisa Worthy, whom I had the pleasure of working with while teaching at P.K. Yonge in Gainesville, Florida, from 2003-2006. Sonora teachers worked in teams to learn the lesson format, then designed and created a collaborative text talk lesson. In that post, I will add pics, the powerpoint I created and links supporting documents.

Oh... and I've made about 10 or so new fonts, since my last upload...which I will add to my right sidebar for anyone that wants to use them for personal and non-commercial use...but if you grab the commercial license while it's on sale {if you plan to use Hello fonts in any products you make and sell for profit}, you will continue to enjoy the perks of the license as I continually add new fonts all the time without changing the license price.

So excited I found your blog - literacy is my passion! Must stem from the fact that my mother is a media specialist! I am moving from 2nd to 5th this year and from Greenville to Charlotte area. I see you're from Raleigh :)

I am your newest follower :) Come stop by if you get a chance - I'd love to hear from you!

Hi Jen,I just found your blog- and Kathi's! I am your newest follower! You guys had a busy week!! Your blog is wonderful- SO many great ideas. I'd love you to stop over to mine if you get a chance!CarolynKindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together

Just found your site through Pinterest and so glad that I did! I've taught elem for many years and am transitioning to 7th grade LA this year. I'm a new follower for sure :-) And Key West-LOVE! We've taken the Key West express from here in Fort Myers Bch-lots of fun!